Bryan Schwartzman

Making his re-election pitch inside an Elkins Park synagogue earlier this week, U.S. Sen. Arlen Specter ratcheted up his criticism of President Barack Obama's dealings with Israel. "I say publicly: You are wrong, Mr. President," Specter said Sunday afternoon, referring to the administration's call for Israel to cease building in eastern Jerusalem, and news reports of Obama's private chastising of...

Plans to open a publicly funded, Hebrew-language charter school in Center City this fall are moving full steam ahead, despite some substantial stumbling blocks. The school, which organizers are hoping to open in September, would be the region's first charter school aimed primarily at Jewish children. Proponents say that the curriculum will focus on the Hebrew language, as well as...

"Don't look at me. I know I'm handsome. Look at the page," David Rabeeya said playfully to his sixth- and seventh-grade students before switching back to Arabic. " Uskoot ," Rabeeya said a bit more forcefully. The septuagenarian somehow managed to come across as both jovial and stern as he made perhaps the most common classroom request in any language:...

It's hard to find a political figure today held in less esteem in the eyes of most Jews than former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin, a blogger for the conservative publication Commentary wrote earlier this year. Jennifer Rubin, in a January posting analyzing the Palin phenomenon, asserted that while they might be off-base, Jews see her as "uncouth, unschooled, a hick,...

Throughout time, it's safe to say that Jews haven't been overwhelmingly embraced by Christian groups. Out and out "love-fests" are practically unheard of. But that's exactly what Pastor John Hagee's gatherings in support of Israel have come to symbolize. Now that love-fest is coming to town, with more than 1,000 people, including evangelical Christians and a number of Jewish supporters,...

Profile

Bryan Schwartzman has been reporting on the Jewish community of Philadelphia since 2003. After 10 years as a staff writer, he now occasionally freelances for the Exponent. He writes about trends in politics, religion and spirituality, philanthropy and sometimes dabbles in sports and the arts.

He has received numerous awards from the Pennsylvania Society of Professional Journalists, the Jewish American Press Association and other organizations.

A native New Yorker, he earned a master’s degree in modern Jewish history and literature from the Jewish Theological Seminary. He is also a graduate of the University of Massachusetts, Amherst.